Allied Health Technology BS (Respiratory Therapy concentration)

Respiratory Therapists are in high demand to care for the increasing number of people with acute and chronic breathing disorders. They treat a range of patients, from premature infants whose lungs are not fully developed to elderly people with lung disease. They give patients oxygen, manage ventilators, and administer drugs to the lungs. Respiratory therapists primarily work in hospitals, but many also start their own respiratory care companies or move into equipment marketing and sales. After completing a respiratory therapy degree program, graduates must take the certification exam to become a certified respiratory therapist or a registered respiratory therapist. Every state (except Alaska) requires that respiratory therapists also obtain a state license. 

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Allied Health Technology/Respiratory Care Concentration is a four-year program that provides the graduate with the knowledge, skills, and clinical experience to perform entry-level competencies as a Respiratory Therapist/Respiratory Care Practitioner in a range of health care settings. In addition, the program will provide curricular content including management, quality, finance, research, and advanced clinical practice for the graduate Respiratory Care Practitioner, to assume leadership roles in the health care profession.

We are currently approved by the New Jersey Presidents’ Council (NJPC) to administer this degree program and are awaiting Commission on Accreditation of Respiratory Care accreditation prior to enrolling students.  If you are interested in becoming a Respiratory Therapist, please contact Professor Smith-Wenning (k.smithwenning@fdu.edu) for the most updated information on student enrollment in this track.

Admission Requirements

  • Graduation from an accredited secondary school with a record indicating the potential to succeed in college will be considered for admission to the FDU BS in Allied Health Technology/Respiratory Therapy Concentration.
  • Completion of the following high school studies:
    • 4 units of English
    • 1 unit of Chemistry + Lab
    • 2 units of History
    • 1 unit of Biology + Lab
    • 2 units of college preparatory Mathematics
  • At least 16 high school academic units
  • Secondary school GPA of 2.7 or higher

Curriculum (under review)

**Accuplacer reading/writing scores and math assessment scores will determine which reading/writing and math courses first time, first year students will take.  Those with reading/writing placement scores below the standards must complete courses in prerequisite skills (e.g., WRIT 1000, WRIT 1001, READ 1000). Those with math placement scores below the standards must complete courses in prerequisite skills (e.g., MATH 0298, MATH 1100).  These credits are applied toward free electives or are non-credit-bearing.  This requirement applies to all first time, first year students, even if they have been accepted into this program track. 

General Education Requirements (43 credits)

  • Written & Oral Communication (9 credits) 
    • WRIT1002 Composition I: Rhetoric and Inquiry
    • WRIT1003 Composition II: Research and Argument
    • Oral Communication: Select from GenEd options
  • Information and Technological Literacy (3 credits) 
    • MEDT2217 Info Systems and Applications in Health Care
  • Ethical Reasoning (3 credits) 
  • Global and Cultural Understanding (6 credits) 
  • Scientific and Quantitative Analysis (8 credits)
  • Social and Behavioral Analysis (6 credits)
    • Social Science: PSYC1201 General Psychology
    • Behavioral Science: SOCI1201 Introduction to Sociology
  • Inquiry in the Arts & Humanities (6 credits)
    • Creative & Expressive Arts: Select from GenEd options
    • Humanities: Select from GenEd options
  • University Core (2 credits)
    • UNIV1002 Preparing for Professional Life
    • UNIV2001 Cross-cultural Perspectives

Allied Health Technology Major Requirements (30 credits)

Additional Requirements – Respiratory Therapy Concentration (47 credits)

  • RESP 1001 Foundations of Respiratory Care
  • RESP 1011 Foundations of Respiratory Care Lab
  • RESP 1041 Core Concepts in Respiratory Care
  • RESP 1021 Cardiopulmonary Pharmacology
  • RESP 1031 Cardiopulmonary A&P
  • RESP 1201 Clinical Experience I
  • RESP 2001 Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology
  • RESP 2051 Cardiopulmonary Evaluation
  • RESP 2011 Mechanical Ventilation I
  • RESP 2021 Mechanical Ventilation Lab I
  • RESP 2120 Clinical Experience II
  • RESP 2061 Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care
  • RESP 2071 Neonatal/Pediatric Lab
  • RESP 2081 Respiratory Care in Alternate Care Sites
  • RESP 2011 Mechanical Ventilation II
  • RESP 2021 Mechanical Ventilation Lab II
  • RESP 2120 Clinical Experience III
  • RESP 2111 Special Topics in Respiratory Care
  • RESP 2121 Evidence Based Practice
  • RESP 2120 Clinical Experience IV
  • RESP 4001 Application of Advanced Respiratory Care
  • RESP 4002 Education, Leadership and Interprofessional Communication

Program Plan (tentative)

Fall Semester, Academic Year 1

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Spring Semester, Academic Year 1

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Fall Semester, Academic Year 2

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Spring Semester, Academic Year 2

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Fall Semester, Academic Year 3

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Spring Semester, Academic Year 3

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Fall Semester, Academic Year 4

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Spring Semester, Academic Year 4

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Contact Information
Director, Allied Health Program/Respiratory Care Concentration
k.smithwenning@fdu.edu